US10645461B2 - Method for providing ad-hoc broadcast service based on channel sharing and apparatus for the same - Google Patents
Method for providing ad-hoc broadcast service based on channel sharing and apparatus for the same Download PDFInfo
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- US10645461B2 US10645461B2 US16/210,961 US201816210961A US10645461B2 US 10645461 B2 US10645461 B2 US 10645461B2 US 201816210961 A US201816210961 A US 201816210961A US 10645461 B2 US10645461 B2 US 10645461B2
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/238—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
- H04N21/2381—Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client
- H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
- H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
- H04N21/6112—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving terrestrial transmission, e.g. DVB-T
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/18—Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/28—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
- H04H20/30—Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information by a single channel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04H—BROADCAST COMMUNICATION
- H04H20/00—Arrangements for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast
- H04H20/65—Arrangements characterised by transmission systems for broadcast
- H04H20/67—Common-wave systems, i.e. using separate transmitters operating on substantially the same frequency
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/238—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
- H04N21/2383—Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
- H04N21/238—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams
- H04N21/2385—Channel allocation; Bandwidth allocation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
- H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
- H04N21/4302—Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
- H04N21/4305—Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/18—Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to technology for providing ad-hoc broadcast services by sharing a single channel, and more particularly to technology for constructing multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks by sharing a single broadcast frequency channel in the same area based on ATSC 3.0 or DVB-T2, which is selected as the next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard.
- me-media which refers to online services for enabling a user to process and produce media, such as video or the like, is widely spread, and is replacing text-based content as the method for sharing personal profiles.
- MCN Multi-Channel Networks
- the ad-hoc broadcast service temporarily constructs a broadcast network in a small area, in which it is difficult to construct a broadcast network to provide a broadcast of an event, thereby providing a broadcast service using the temporarily constructed broadcast network. Therefore, as opposed to an existing broadcast network, which is constructed and maintained for a long time, it is necessary to quickly allocate and revoke a frequency band for a short period and to automatically avoid interference between a broadcast network that is being served and a newly constructed broadcast network during the allocation and revocation of the frequency band. Also, it is required to enable ad-hoc broadcast networks in narrow service ranges to interwork with each other in order to extend the service range.
- U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0241610 discloses a technology related to “Ad-hoc group call communications over evolved multimedia broadcast multicast service”.
- An object of the present invention is to temporarily construct an ad-hoc broadcast network in a small area based on a next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard in consideration of compatibility with terrestrial broadcast transmitters, thereby providing a broadcast service.
- Another object of the present invention is to configure multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks through a single broadcast channel, to facilitate various types of infrastructure for me-media, and to stimulate the emergence of new services and broadcast markets related thereto.
- a method for providing ad-hoc broadcast services based on channel sharing includes receiving, by a master broadcast transmitter for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service, a request to share a channel from a new broadcast transmitter; allocating, by the master broadcast transmitter, one of multiple subframes, into which a transmission frame of any one broadcast channel corresponding to the ad-hoc broadcast service is divided, to the new broadcast transmitter; and performing, by the master broadcast transmitter, synchronization with the new broadcast transmitter based on reference time information included in a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP), thereby controlling the new broadcast transmitter in real time.
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- allocating one of the multiple subframes may include transmitting a bootstrap and a preamble to the new broadcast transmitter and thereby providing band allocation information corresponding to the subframe when the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame; and transmitting a P1 symbol and a P2 symbol to the new broadcast transmitter and thereby providing band allocation information corresponding to the subframe when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame.
- the method may further include including the control PLP in a subframe for the master broadcast transmitter, but using a common PLP of the P2 symbol as the control PLP when the common PLP is capable of including the control PLP.
- the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the master broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may correspond to a time at which the bootstrap is transmitted or a time delayed for a preset time offset from the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted when the transmission frame is the ATSC 3.0 frame, and the reference time information may correspond to a time at which the P1 symbol is transmitted when the transmission frame is the DVB-T2 frame.
- controlling the new broadcast transmitter may be configured to transmit the reference time information to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP such that the new broadcast transmitter corrects internal time information so as to match the reference time information.
- the multiple subframes are acquired by dividing the transmission frame using any one of Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
- TDMA Time-Division Multiple Access
- FDMA Frequency-Division Multiple Access
- the multiple subframes may correspond to at least one data symbol.
- a broadcast transmitter includes a processor for receiving a request to share a channel from a new broadcast transmitter for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service, allocating one of multiple subframes, into which a transmission frame of any one broadcast channel corresponding to the ad-hoc broadcast service is divided, to the new broadcast transmitter, and controlling the new broadcast transmitter in real time by performing synchronization with the new broadcast transmitter based on reference time information included in a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP); and memory for storing the reference time information and control information for sharing the any one broadcast channel.
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- the processor may be configured to provide band allocation information corresponding to the subframe by transmitting a bootstrap and a preamble to the new broadcast transmitter when the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame; and to provide band allocation information corresponding to the subframe by transmitting a P1 symbol and a P2 symbol to the new broadcast transmitter when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame.
- the processor may include the control PLP in the subframe corresponding to the broadcast transmitter, but may use a common PLP of the P2 symbol as the control PLP when the common PLP is capable of including the control PLP.
- the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may correspond to a time at which the bootstrap is transmitted or a time delayed for a preset time offset from the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted when the transmission frame is the ATSC 3.0 frame, and the reference time information may correspond to a time at which the P1 symbol is transmitted when the transmission frame is the DVB-T2 frame.
- the processor may transmit the reference time information to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP such that the new broadcast transmitter corrects internal time information so as to match the reference time information.
- the multiple subframes may be acquired by dividing the transmission frame using any one of Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
- TDMA Time-Division Multiple Access
- FDMA Frequency-Division Multiple Access
- the multiple subframes may correspond to at least one data symbol.
- FIGS. 1 to 3 are views that show an example of an ad-hoc broadcast service
- FIG. 4 is a view that shows an example of an ad-hoc broadcast service system in which an ad-hoc broadcast network is connected with an ad-hoc communication network according to the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a flowchart that shows a method for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service based on channel sharing according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 6 is a view that shows an example of the structure of an ATSC 3.0 frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a view that shows an example of division of an ATSC 3.0 frame based on Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) according to the present invention
- FIG. 8 is a view that shows an example of division of an ATSC 3.0 frame based on Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA) according to the present invention
- FIG. 9 is a view that shows an example of a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP) and reference time information in an ATSC 3.0 frame according to the present invention
- FIG. 10 is a view that shows an example of the structure of a DVB-T2 frame according to the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a view that shows an example of division of a DVB-T2 frame based on TDMA according to the present invention.
- FIG. 12 is a view that shows an example of division of a DVB-T2 frame based on FDMA according to the present invention
- FIG. 13 is a view that shows an example of a control PLP and reference time information in a DVB-T2 frame according to the present invention
- FIG. 14 is a view that specifically shows the structure of a broadcast transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 15 is a block diagram that shows a broadcast transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- an ad-hoc broadcast service is aimed at temporarily constructing a broadcast network in a small area and providing a broadcast service.
- an ad-hoc broadcast service may be provided using a small-size low-power broadcast transmitter 110 and a personal mobile terminal, such as a laptop, a mobile phone, or the like, in order to enable multiple users to receive the same content indoors, such as in a lecture room, a classroom, an office, or the like, as shown in FIG. 1 .
- low-power radio the energy of which is equal to or less than 10 mW/MHz, may be used without obtaining permission to use radio frequencies and without frequency assignment.
- the broadcast service when an ad-hoc broadcast service is provided in a wide area, such as a sports stadium or an exhibition hall, the broadcast service may be provided by forming a Single-Frequency Network (SFN) using ad-hoc broadcast networks configured with multiple broadcast transmitters 210 and 220 , as shown in FIG. 2 .
- SFN Single-Frequency Network
- a master broadcast transmitter that provides an ad-hoc broadcast service receives a request to share a channel from a new broadcast transmitter at step S 510 .
- the master broadcast transmitter is a broadcast transmitter that provides an ad-hoc broadcast service, and one of multiple broadcast transmitters that share a single broadcast channel may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- a special agent that functions to allocate and manage a frequency band for an ad-hoc broadcast service may be used.
- the master broadcast transmitter may provide a broadcast service by transmitting and receiving information for configuring an ad-hoc broadcast network to and from the agent via a communication network.
- the agent is not essential, and the master broadcast transmitter may function to allocate and manage a frequency band for an ad-hoc broadcast service when there is no agent.
- the new broadcast transmitter may be a broadcast transmitter that intends to configure a new ad-hoc broadcast network by sharing the broadcast channel with the master broadcast transmitter. That is, when the master broadcast transmitter provides an ad-hoc broadcast service through a specific broadcast channel, the new broadcast transmitter may request to share the specific broadcast channel in order to provide a new ad-hoc broadcast service.
- the master broadcast transmitter may function to allocate a subframe for data transmission to other broadcast transmitters and to provide control information that is necessary for multiple access, including physical layer parameters and the like. Accordingly, the new broadcast transmitter may receive necessary information by requesting channel sharing based on communication with the master broadcast transmitter.
- the new broadcast transmitter may receive necessary information from the agent via the master broadcast transmitter.
- communication between the master broadcast transmitter and the new broadcast transmitter may be performed using a wireless ad-hoc communication network such as a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication network, or a wireless mobile communication network such as LTE or the like.
- a wireless ad-hoc communication network such as a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication network, or a wireless mobile communication network such as LTE or the like.
- a wireless ad-hoc communication network or a P2P communication network may be configured based on multiple reception terminals in consideration of the physical distance between the broadcast transmitters.
- broadcast transmitters may be connected with each other through communication networks, whereby non-real-time control information and network management information may be delivered therebetween.
- real-time control information may be transmitted by allocating a band in the subframe of the master broadcast transmitter, which will be described in detail later with a description of a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP).
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- the master broadcast transmitter allocates one of multiple subframes, into which the transmission frame of any one broadcast channel corresponding to an ad-hoc broadcast service is divided, to the new broadcast transmitter at step S 520 .
- the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame
- the bootstrap and the preamble thereof are transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter, whereby band allocation information corresponding to the subframe may be provided.
- the ATSC 3.0 frame may include three components, specifically, a bootstrap, a preamble, and multiple subframes, as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the bootstrap or the bootstrap signal contains basic information that is necessary in order to operate a receiver. Therefore, the bootstrap may be designed so as to be most robust to noise such that a receiver may receive the bootstrap even under poor conditions.
- the bootstrap may have a fixed bandwidth of 4.5 MHz regardless of the actually allocated bandwidth.
- the bootstrap includes four Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and each symbol may have a duration of 500 ⁇ sec.
- OFDM Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing
- the preamble contains signaling information for physical layer (Layer 1) control and information about the frame structure of a data payload.
- the master broadcast transmitter transmits the bootstrap and the preamble of the ATSC 3.0 frame to the new broadcast transmitter, thereby providing information for allocating a frequency band.
- a single ATSC 3.0 frame may include multiple subframes, as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the subframes may have fixed physical layer transmission parameters, such as an FFT size, a GI length, a pilot pattern, the number of useful subcarriers, and the like.
- the duration of an ATSC 3.0 frame may range from 50 msec. to 5 sec.
- the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame
- the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol thereof are transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter, whereby band allocation information corresponding to the subframe may be provided.
- a DVB-T2 frame may include a P1 symbol, a P2 symbol, and multiple data symbols, as shown in FIG. 10 . Accordingly, when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame, multiple subframes may correspond to at least one data symbol.
- a DVB-T2 frame is configured with OFDM symbols, and the frame length may range from 150 msec. to 250 msec.
- a service may be provided using a superframe that includes DVB-T2 frames as the components thereof, as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the superframe may include up to 256 DVB-T2 frames.
- the P1 symbol includes information such as the start signal of a DVB-T2 frame, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size, and the like.
- FFT Fast Fourier Transform
- the P2 symbol includes L1 signaling and a common PLP.
- the L1 signaling of the P2 symbol includes information about the structure of a DVB-T2 frame, such as the position of a PLP cell within the DVB-T2 frame
- the common PLP includes general PSI/SI for a broadcast service.
- the master broadcast transmitter transmits the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol of the DVB-T2 frame to the new broadcast transmitter, thereby providing information for allocating a band.
- the multiple subframes may be acquired by dividing the transmission frame using any one of Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
- TDMA Time-Division Multiple Access
- FDMA Frequency-Division Multiple Access
- each subframe of the ATSC 3.0 frame is allocated as the frequency band of a single ad-hoc broadcast network, whereby a broadcast service may be provided. That is, multiple broadcast transmitters may share a single frequency channel using TDMA or FDMA in the same broadcast channel, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 7 shows an example in which multiple subframes 710 , 720 and 730 are generated by dividing an ATSC 3.0 frame based on TDMA.
- the broadcast transmitter that configures an ad-hoc broadcast network using the first subframe 710 following the preamble section may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks may be formed using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 710 , 720 and 730 are respectively allocated.
- FIG. 8 shows an example in which multiple subframes 810 , 820 and 830 are generated by dividing an ATSC 3.0 frame based on FDMA.
- broadcast services may be provided by forming multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 810 , 820 and 830 illustrated in FIG. 8 are respectively allocated.
- the broadcast transmitter selected as the master broadcast transmitter in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 may transmit the bootstrap and the preamble to the remaining broadcast transmitters to which the subframes are allocated.
- multiple broadcast networks may be formed using TDMA or FDMA, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , similar to the case in which the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame.
- FIG. 11 shows an example in which multiple subframes 1110 , 1120 and 1130 are generated by dividing a DVB-T2 frame based on TDMA.
- the broadcast transmitter that configures an ad-hoc broadcast network using the first subframe 1110 following the P2 symbol section may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks may be formed using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 1110 , 1120 and 1130 are respectively allocated.
- FIG. 12 shows an example in which multiple subframes 1210 , 1220 and 1230 are generated by dividing a DVB-T2 frame based on FDMA.
- broadcast services may be provided by forming multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 1210 , 1220 and 1230 illustrated in FIG. 12 are respectively allocated.
- the broadcast transmitter selected as the master broadcast transmitter in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 may transmit the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol to the remaining broadcast transmitters to which the subframes are allocated.
- the master broadcast transmitter controls the new broadcast transmitter in real time at step S 530 by performing synchronization with the new broadcast transmitter based on reference time information included in a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP).
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- the master broadcast transmitter may transmit a subframe after it transmits the bootstrap and the preamble to the new broadcast transmitter. Therefore, the new broadcast transmitter is required to synchronize its time with the master broadcast transmitter, and to this end, the master broadcast transmitter may configure a control PLP.
- control PLP 911 may be included in the subframe 910 allocated to the master broadcast transmitter, and may include real-time control and management information that is necessary in order for the new broadcast transmitter to configure an ad-hoc broadcast network.
- the most important information included in the control PLP 911 is reference time information, and the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the master broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may be the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted or a time delayed for a preset time offset from the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted.
- a counter sequentially counts using a reference clock in the master broadcast transmitter, whereby the value of the counter of the reference clock at the bootstrap transmission time 920 , at which the bootstrap of the current physical layer frame is output, may be set as the reference time information.
- the value of the counter of the reference clock at the time delayed for the preset time offset from the bootstrap transmission time 920 may be set as the reference time information.
- the time offset may be set to a positive (+) value or a negative ( ⁇ ) value.
- the value thereof may also be transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP.
- the new broadcast transmitter may also generate internal time information using its clock. Therefore, the master broadcast transmitter may transmit the reference time information to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP such that the new broadcast transmitter corrects the internal time information so as to match the reference time information. Accordingly, the master broadcast transmitter and the new broadcast transmitter may synchronize a reference clock and a time therebetween.
- the new broadcast transmitter may set time information for frequency band allocation using the reference time information received from the master broadcast transmitter.
- the master broadcast transmitter may transmit a subframe after it transmits the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol to the new broadcast transmitter. Accordingly, when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame, the new broadcast transmitter is required to synchronize time with the master broadcast transmitter, similar to the case in which the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame. To this end, the master broadcast transmitter may configure a control PLP.
- control PLP 1311 may be included in the subframe 1310 allocated to the master broadcast transmitter, and may include real-time control and management information that is necessary in order for the new broadcast transmitter to configure an ad-hoc broadcast network.
- the most important information included in the control PLP 1311 is reference time information, and the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the master broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may be set based on the time at which the P1 symbol is transmitted.
- a counter sequentially counts using a reference clock in the master broadcast transmitter, whereby the value of the counter of the reference clock at the P1 symbol transmission time 1320 , at which the P1 symbol of the current physical layer frame is output, may be set as the reference time information.
- a control PLP is included in the subframe allocated to the master broadcast transmitter, but a common PLP may be used as the control PLP when the common PLP of the P2 symbol is capable of including the control PLP therein.
- the common PLP may be used as the control PLP without the need to separately configure the control PLP.
- various kinds of information generated during the above-described process for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service may be stored in a separate storage module.
- an ad-hoc broadcast network is temporarily constructed in a small area based on the next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard in consideration of compatibility with terrestrial broadcast transmitters, and a broadcast service may be provided through the ad-hoc broadcast network.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks are formed using a single broadcast channel, various types of infrastructure for me-media may be facilitated, whereby the emergence of new services and broadcast markets related thereto may be stimulated.
- FIG. 14 is a view that specifically shows the structure of a broadcast transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the broadcast transmitter may basically function as a master broadcast transmitter according to the present invention.
- the broadcast transmitter may process control and management information transmitted from the master broadcast transmitter.
- the broadcast transmitter may be broadly divided into a broadcast data transmission module 1410 , a real-time-control-data-processing module 1420 , and a non-real-time-control-data-processing module 1430 .
- the broadcast data transmission module 1410 may function to transmit user data input thereto.
- the broadcast transmitter When the broadcast transmitter is a master broadcast transmitter, the broadcast transmitter may transmit control and management information for configuring an ad-hoc broadcast network to another broadcast transmitter through a control PLP.
- the broadcast data transmission module 1410 may process the broadcast data under the control of the real-time-control-data-processing module 1420 , for example, by receiving information about transmission time therefrom.
- the real-time-control-data-processing module 1420 processes control information related to data transmission time or a transmission band.
- the broadcast transmitter When the broadcast transmitter is a master broadcast transmitter, the broadcast transmitter configures a control PLP with information necessary for forming an ad-hoc broadcast network, such as reference time information or band allocation information, and transmits the same to another broadcast transmitter.
- the broadcast transmitter detects the bootstrap (or the P1 symbol in the case of a DVB-T2) transmitted from the master broadcast transmitter and delivers the time at which the bootstrap is detected to an internal time information generator, thereby correcting time information.
- the real-time-control-data-processing module 1420 processes real-time control information, such as the bootstrap, the preamble, the control PLP, and the like, thereby performing control so as to output the processing result corresponding to the allocated band.
- the non-real-time-control-data-processing module 1430 may transmit and receive non-real-time control information via an ad-hoc communication network, such as a MANET, a P2P communication network, or a mobile communication network, such as LTE or the like, and may process the same.
- an ad-hoc communication network such as a MANET, a P2P communication network, or a mobile communication network, such as LTE or the like, and may process the same.
- the non-real-time control information may include a request to allocate a band for configuring a new broadcast network, which is transmitted to the master broadcast transmitter, approval of the request, transmission timing correction information, information for managing an ad-hoc broadcast network operation, and the like.
- FIG. 15 is a block diagram that shows a broadcast transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the broadcast transmitter includes a communication unit 1510 , a processor 1520 , and memory 1530 .
- the broadcast transmitter illustrated in FIG. 15 may be a master broadcast transmitter for managing and controlling other broadcast transmitters in order to provide ad-hoc broadcast services.
- the master broadcast transmitter is a broadcast transmitter that provides an ad-hoc broadcast service, and one of multiple broadcast transmitters that share a single broadcast channel may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- the master broadcast transmitter may be selected using any of various methods.
- the broadcast transmitter that first uses the frequency for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service and thereby configures an ad-hoc broadcast network in the corresponding area may be selected as the master broadcast transmitter.
- the present invention may use a special agent that functions to allocate and manage a frequency band for an ad-hoc broadcast service.
- the master broadcast transmitter may provide a broadcast service by transmitting and receiving information for configuring an ad-hoc broadcast network to and from the agent via a communication network.
- the agent is not essential, and the master broadcast transmitter may function to allocate and manage a frequency band for an ad-hoc broadcast service when there is no agent.
- the communication unit 1510 functions to send and receive information that is necessary in order to provide an ad-hoc broadcast service.
- the communication unit 1510 may send and receive non-real-time control and management information between broadcast transmitters.
- the processor 1520 receives a request to share a channel from a new broadcast transmitter for providing an ad-hoc broadcast service.
- the new broadcast transmitter may be a broadcast transmitter that intends to configure a new ad-hoc broadcast network by sharing a broadcast channel with the master broadcast transmitter. That is, when the master broadcast transmitter provides an ad-hoc broadcast service through a specific broadcast channel, the new broadcast transmitter may request to share the specific broadcast channel in order to provide a new ad-hoc broadcast service.
- the master broadcast transmitter may function to allocate a subframe for data transmission to other broadcast transmitters and to provide control information that is necessary for multiple access, which includes physical layer parameters and the like. Accordingly, the new broadcast transmitter may receive necessary information by requesting channel sharing based on communication with the master broadcast transmitter.
- the new broadcast transmitter may receive necessary information from the agent via the master broadcast transmitter.
- communication between the master broadcast transmitter and the new broadcast transmitter may be performed using a wireless ad-hoc communication network such as a MANET, a P2P communication network, or a wireless mobile communication network such as LTE or the like.
- a wireless ad-hoc communication network such as a MANET, a P2P communication network, or a wireless mobile communication network such as LTE or the like.
- a communication network may be configured based on multiple reception terminals in consideration of the physical distance between the broadcast transmitters.
- broadcast transmitters may be connected with each other through communication networks, whereby non-real-time control information and network management information may be delivered therebetween.
- real-time control information may be transmitted by allocating a band in the subframe of the master broadcast transmitter, which will be described in detail later with a description of a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP).
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- the processor 1520 allocates one of multiple subframes, into which the transmission frame of any one broadcast channel corresponding to an ad-hoc broadcast service is divided, to a new broadcast transmitter.
- the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame
- the bootstrap and the preamble thereof are transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter, whereby band allocation information corresponding to the subframe may be provided.
- the ATSC 3.0 frame may include three components, specifically, a bootstrap, a preamble, and multiple subframes, as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the bootstrap or the bootstrap signal contains basic information that is necessary in order to operate a receiver. Therefore, the bootstrap may be designed so as to be most robust to noise such that a receiver may receive the bootstrap even under poor conditions.
- the bootstrap may have a fixed bandwidth of 4.5 MHz regardless of the actually allocated bandwidth.
- the bootstrap includes four Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and each symbol may have a duration of 500 ⁇ sec.
- OFDM Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing
- the preamble contains signaling information for physical layer (Layer 1) control and information about the frame structure of a data payload.
- the master broadcast transmitter transmits the bootstrap and the preamble of the ATSC 3.0 frame to the new broadcast transmitter, thereby providing information for allocating a frequency band.
- a single ATSC 3.0 frame may include multiple subframes, as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the subframes may have fixed physical layer transmission parameters, such as an FFT size, a GI length, a pilot pattern, the number of useful subcarriers, and the like.
- the duration of an ATSC 3.0 frame may range from 50 msec. to 5 sec.
- the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame
- the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol thereof are transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter, whereby band allocation information corresponding to the subframe may be provided.
- a DVB-T2 frame may include a P1 symbol, a P2 symbol, and multiple data symbols, as shown in FIG. 10 . Accordingly, when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame, multiple subframes may correspond to at least one data symbol.
- a DVB-T2 frame is configured with OFDM symbols, and the frame length may range from 150 msec. to 250 msec.
- a service may be provided using a superframe that includes DVB-T2 frames as the components thereof, as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the superframe may include up to 256 DVB-T2 frames.
- the P1 symbol includes information such as the start signal of a DVB-T2 frame, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size, and the like.
- FFT Fast Fourier Transform
- the P2 symbol includes L1 signaling and a common PLP.
- the L1 signaling of the P2 symbol includes information about the structure of a DVB-T2 frame, such as the position of a PLP cell within the DVB-T2 frame
- the common PLP includes general PSI/SI for a broadcast service.
- the master broadcast transmitter transmits the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol of the DVB-T2 frame to the new broadcast transmitter, thereby providing information for allocating a frequency band.
- the multiple subframes may be acquired by dividing the transmission frame using any one of Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
- TDMA Time-Division Multiple Access
- FDMA Frequency-Division Multiple Access
- each subframe of the ATSC 3.0 frame is allocated as the frequency band of a single ad-hoc broadcast network, whereby a broadcast service may be provided. That is, multiple broadcast transmitters may share a single frequency channel using TDMA or FDMA in the same broadcast channel, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 .
- FIG. 7 shows an example in which multiple subframes 710 , 720 and 730 are generated by dividing an ATSC 3.0 frame based on TDMA.
- the broadcast transmitter that configures an ad-hoc broadcast network using the first subframe 710 following the preamble section may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks may be formed using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 710 , 720 and 730 are respectively allocated.
- FIG. 8 shows an example in which multiple subframes 810 , 820 and 830 are generated by dividing an ATSC 3.0 frame based on FDMA.
- broadcast services may be provided by forming multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 810 , 820 and 830 illustrated in FIG. 8 are respectively allocated.
- the broadcast transmitter selected as a master broadcast transmitter in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 may transmit the bootstrap and the preamble to the remaining broadcast transmitters to which the subframes are allocated.
- multiple broadcast networks may be formed using TDMA or FDMA, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , similar to the case in which the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame.
- FIG. 11 shows an example in which multiple subframes 1110 , 1120 and 1130 are generated by dividing a DVB-T2 frame based on TDMA.
- the broadcast transmitter that configures an ad-hoc broadcast network using the first subframe 1110 following the P2 symbol section may be selected and used as the master broadcast transmitter.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks may be formed using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 1110 , 1120 and 1130 are respectively allocated.
- FIG. 12 shows an example in which multiple subframes 1210 , 1220 and 1230 are generated by dividing a DVB-T2 frame based on FDMA.
- broadcast services may be provided by forming multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks using the multiple broadcast transmitters to which the multiple subframes 1210 , 1220 and 1230 illustrated in FIG. 12 are respectively allocated.
- the broadcast transmitter selected as a master broadcast transmitter in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 may transmit the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol to the remaining broadcast transmitters to which the subframes are allocated.
- the processor 1520 controls a new broadcast transmitter in real time by performing synchronization with the new broadcast transmitter based on reference time information included in a control Physical Layer Pipe (PLP).
- PLP Physical Layer Pipe
- the master broadcast transmitter may transmit a subframe after it transmits the bootstrap and the preamble to the new broadcast transmitter. Therefore, the new broadcast transmitter is required to synchronize its time with the master broadcast transmitter, and to this end, the master broadcast transmitter may configure a control PLP.
- control PLP 911 may be included in the subframe 910 allocated to the master broadcast transmitter, and may include real-time control and management information that is necessary in order for the new broadcast transmitter to configure an ad-hoc broadcast network.
- the most important information included in the control PLP 911 is reference time information, and the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the master broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may be the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted or a time delayed for a preset time offset from the time at which the bootstrap is transmitted.
- a counter sequentially counts using a reference clock in the master broadcast transmitter, whereby the value of the counter of the reference clock at the bootstrap transmission time 920 , at which the bootstrap of the current physical layer frame is output, may be set as the reference time information.
- the value of the counter of the reference clock at the time delayed for the preset time offset from the bootstrap transmission time 920 may be set as the reference time information.
- the time offset may be set to a positive (+) value or a negative ( ⁇ ) value.
- the value thereof may also be transmitted to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP.
- the new broadcast transmitter may also generate internal time information using its clock. Therefore, the master broadcast transmitter may transmit the reference time information to the new broadcast transmitter using the control PLP such that the new broadcast transmitter corrects the internal time information so as to match the reference time information. Accordingly, the master broadcast transmitter and the new broadcast transmitter may synchronize a reference clock and a time therebetween.
- the new broadcast transmitter may set time information for frequency band allocation using the reference time information received from the master broadcast transmitter.
- the master broadcast transmitter may transmit a subframe after it transmits the P1 symbol and the P2 symbol to the new broadcast transmitter. Accordingly, when the transmission frame is a DVB-T2 frame, the new broadcast transmitter is required to synchronize time with the master broadcast transmitter, similar to the case in which the transmission frame is an ATSC 3.0 frame. To this end, the master broadcast transmitter may configure a control PLP.
- control PLP 1311 may be included in the subframe 1310 allocated to the master broadcast transmitter, and may include real-time control and management information that is necessary in order for the new broadcast transmitter to configure an ad-hoc broadcast network.
- the most important information included in the control PLP 1311 is reference time information, and the reference time information may be set using a reference clock counter value in the master broadcast transmitter.
- the reference time information may be set based on the time at which the P1 symbol is transmitted.
- a counter sequentially counts using a reference clock in the master broadcast transmitter, whereby the value of the counter of the reference clock at the P1 symbol transmission time 1320 , at which the P1 symbol of the current physical layer frame is output, may be set as the reference time information.
- the processor 1520 includes a control PLP in the subframe allocated to the broadcast transmitter, but may alternatively use a common PLP as the control PLP when the common PLP of the P2 symbol is capable of including the control PLP therein.
- the common PLP may be used as the control PLP without the need to separately configure the control PLP.
- the memory 1530 stores at least one of reference time information and control information for sharing any one broadcast channel. Also, the memory 1530 may store various kinds of information generated during the above-described process for providing ad-hoc broadcast services.
- an ad-hoc broadcast network is temporarily constructed in a small area based on the next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard in consideration of compatibility with terrestrial broadcast transmitters, and a broadcast service may be provided through the ad-hoc broadcast network.
- multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks are formed using a single broadcast channel, various types of infrastructure for me-media may be facilitated, whereby the emergence of new services and broadcast markets related thereto may be stimulated.
- an ad-hoc broadcast network may be temporarily constructed in a small area based on a next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard in consideration of compatibility with terrestrial broadcast transmitters, whereby a broadcast service may be provided.
- the present invention enables multiple ad-hoc broadcast networks to be configured through a single broadcast channel, thereby facilitating various types of infrastructure for me-media and stimulating the emergence of new services and broadcast markets related thereto.
- the method and apparatus for providing ad-hoc broadcast services based on channel sharing are not limitedly applied to the configurations and operations of the above-described embodiments, but all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined and configured, so that the embodiments may be modified in various ways.
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